This week I had the chance to view "El Cantante" by Leon Ichaso. "El Cantante" is based on the life of Hector "El Cantante" Lavoe, who was one of the originators of salsa music in NYC. Hector is portrayed by Marc Anthony and his wife is portrayed by Jennifer Lopez. Go figure. Hahahaha.
So my thoughts. Well, I was somewhat disappointed with the film. The director focused too much on the negative aspects of Hector's life. The drugs, womanizing, his temper. The film felt like a montage of drug/party scenes thrown togeter. "El Cantante" was like one long music video.
The character development was also done poorly in this film. I felt like the audience never got to understand who Hector really was outside of his Playboy lifestyle. The director really portrayed him as a one dimensional character.
Using his wife Puchi to tell the story third-person was also a flaw of the film. The film overplays her influence in Hector's life.
This film could have been something really beautiful but instead it only reinforced the negative stereotypes of Latinos. Hopefully another director in the future will take the opportunity to attempt to tell Hector's story becuase he is to salsa music what James Brown was to black music.
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